Hagan, K.A., F. Grodstein, 2019. The Alternative Healthy Eating Index and physical function impairment in men. J Nutr Health Aging. 23(5):459-465.
Objectives: Physical function is increasingly recognized as integral to healthy aging, in particular as a core component of mobility and independent living in older adults. Thus, it is important to identify strategies for the prevention of physical function decline. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Setting and Participants: A total of 12,658 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study were followed from 2008–2012. Measurements: We examined the association between the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI), a measure of diet quality combining 11 dietary components (vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes, red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juices, alcohol, whole grains, omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, sodium), and impairment in physical function, as measured by the SF-36. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of impairment in physical function. Results: In the multivariable-adjusted model, each 10-point increase in total AHEI score was associated with a 10% lower odds of impairment in physical function (OR=0.90, 95% CI: 0.86,0.95), and in the categorical analysis, men with AHEI scores in the top quintile had a 26% lower odds (OR=0.74, 95% CI:0.63,0.86) compared with men in the bottom quintile. For individual AHEI components, higher intake of vegetables (p-trend=0.01), nuts and legumes (p-trend<0.01), polyunsaturated fatty acids (p-trend<0.01) and lower intake of red and processed meats (p-trend=0.03) and sugar-sweetened beverages (p-trend=0.01) were significantly associated with lower odds of physical impairment. For specific foods, higher consumption of lettuce, broccoli, blueberries, peanuts, walnuts and other nuts were associated with lower odds of impairment. Conclusions: In this large cohort of older men, better overall diet quality was significantly associated with a lower odds of impairment in physical function. Given the value of physical function to healthy aging and quality of life, this may represent a particularly compelling public health rationale for older men to improve their diet.
Chen, C.-Y.O., P.E. Milbury, J.B. Blumberg, 2019. Polyphenols in almond skins produced during almond blanching process modulate plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress in healthy humans. Antioxidants. 8, 95. doi: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/8/4/95/pdf
Almond skins are a waste byproduct of blanched almond production. Polyphenols extracted from almond skins possess antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we examined the pharmacokinetic profile of almond skin polyphenols (ASP) and their effect on measures of oxidative stress. In a randomized crossover trial, seven adults consumed two acute ASP doses (225 mg (low, L) or 450 mg (high, H) total phenols) in skim milk or milk alone. Plasma flavonoids, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), oxidized GSH (GSSG), and resistance of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation were measured over 10 h. The H dose increased catechin and naringenin in plasma, with maximum concentrations of 44.3 and 19.3 ng/mL, respectively. The GSH/GSSG ratio at 3 h after the H doses was 212% of the baseline value, as compared to 82% after milk (p = 0.003). Both ASP doses upregulated GPx activity by 26–35% from the baseline at 15, 30, 45, and 120 min after consumption. The in vitro addition of α-tocopherol extended the lag time of LDL oxidation at 3 h after L and H consumption by 144.7% and 165.2% of that at 0 h compared to no change after milk (p≤0.05). In conclusion, ASP are bioavailable and modulate GSH status, GPx activity, and the resistance of LDL to oxidation.
Lesser, M.N.R., K. Mauldin, L. Sawrey-Kubicek, V. Gildengorin, J.C. King, 2019. The effect of almond consumption on postprandial metabolic and satiety response in high-risk pregnant women. Nutrients. 11, 490; doi:10.3390/nu11030490.
Almonds provide a satiating, healthy source of fat and fiber. The postprandial metabolic and satiety response to 2 ounces of nuts or dairy was assessed in 18 overweight/obese women during late pregnancy. Serum glucose, triglycerides, insulin, c-peptide, leptin, ghrelin, and lipoprotein particles were measured prior to and during a 5-h postprandial period following the consumption of an isocaloric breakfast meal with equivalent amounts of fat from either nuts or dairy on two separate mornings. Satiety was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires and ad libitum food intake at the end of the study. At 33 weeks gestation, the women had gained an average of 7.0±4.4 kg during gestation. Body fat averaged 41.9±5.5% and hemoglobin A1c levels were elevated, (7.2±0.6%). Fasting glucose levels were normal, but hyperinsulinemia was evident. The two test meals did not affect the postprandial metabolic response, but glucose, triglyceride, and ghrelin concentrations changed with time during the postprandial period (p < 0.001, p = 0.0008, p = 0.006). Satiety measures did not differ between the two test meals. Consuming an isocaloric breakfast meal with equivalent amounts of fat from nuts or dairy did not alter postprandial levels of blood lipids, glucose, hormones, or measures of satiety in overweight/obese, pregnant women.
Williams, P.T., N. Bergeron, S. Chiu, R.M. Krauss, 2019. A randomized, controlled trial on the effects of almonds on lipoprotein response to a higher carbohydrate, lower fat diet in men and women with abdominal adiposity. Lipids in Health and Disease. 18: 83. doi: https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/track/pdf/10.1186/s12944-019-1025-4.
Background: Almonds have been shown to lower LDL cholesterol but there is limited information regarding their effects on the dyslipidemia characterized by increased levels of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) and small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles that is associated with abdominal adiposity and high carbohydrate intake. The objective of the present study was to test whether substitution of almonds for other foods attenuates carbohydrate-induced increases in small, dense LDL in individuals with increased abdominal adiposity. Methods: This was a randomized cross-over study of three 3wk diets, separated by 2wk washouts: a higher carbohydrate (CHO) reference diet (CHOhigh), a higher-CHO diet with isocaloric substitution of 20% kcal (E) from almonds (CHOhigh + almonds), and a lower-CHO reference diet (CHOlow) in 9 men and 15 women who were overweight or obese. The two CHOhigh diets contained 50% carbohydrate, 15% protein, 35% fat (6% saturated, 21% monounsaturated, 8% polyunsaturated), while the CHOlow diet contained 25% carbohydrate, 28% protein, 47% fat (8% saturated, 28% monounsaturated, 8% polyunsaturated). Lipoprotein subfraction concentrations were measured by ion mobility. Results: Relative to the CHOlow diet: 1) the CHOhigh +almonds diet significantly increased small, dense LDLIIIa (mean difference ± SE: 28.6±10.4nmol/L, P=0.008), and reduced LDL-peak diameter (−1.7±0.6Å, P=0.008); 2) the CHOhigh diet significantly increased medium-sized LDLIIb (24.8±11.4nmol/L, P=0.04) and large VLDL (3.7±1.8 nmol/L, P=0.05). Relative to CHOlow, the effects of CHOhigh on LDLIIIa (17.7±10.6nmol/L) and LDL-peak diameter (−1.1±0.6Å) were consistent with those of CHOhigh + almonds, and the effects of CHOhigh +almonds on LDLIIb (21.0± 11.2nmol/L) and large VLDL (2.8±1.8nmol/L) were consistent with those of CHOhigh, but did not achieve statistical significance (P>0.05). None of the variables examined showed a significant difference between the CHOhigh + almonds and CHOhigh diets (P>0.05). Conclusion: Our analyses provided no evidence that deriving 20% E from almonds significantly modifies increases in levels of small, dense LDL or other plasma lipoprotein changes induced by a higher carbohydrate low saturated fat diet in individuals with increased abdominal adiposity.
